‘Justice’: Aust’s worst pedophile jailed
The families of young girls who were preyed upon by vile childcare worker and victims of sexual abuse have found comfort knowing he’ll be locked behind bars for at least 30 years.
Dubbed one of Australia’s worst pedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday.
Earlier this year, Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges related to the abuse of children in his care during his time as a childcare worker in Queensland and overseas.
The charges included 190 counts of indecent treatment of children, 67 counts of making child exploitation material, 28 counts of rape, 15 counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child, four counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, one count of possessing child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service to access child pornography material.
Families’ fight for justice
The mother of one of the girls who was a victim of Griffith’s said she feels like there’s been “some form of justice after a really tough couple of years” now he’s been sentenced.
“My daughter … has memory of what’s happened but the best thing is when she’s older and she understands, we’re going to be able to tell her that he got put into prison for the rest of his life because of the actions of incredible agents working with the federal police,” the mother, who cannot be legally identified, said.
“They’ve just been so fantastic, exceptional and also (prosecutor) Stephanie Gallagher and her team who has been really wonderful with all of us families.
“Today is like a huge win for all of our girls. I’m really proud to say he’s not going to be able to get parole for 27 years.”
The mother said she was “nervous” to learn what his sentence would be but ultimately “justice has spoken.
“The public is going to be protected and no girls are ever going to be touched by him again,” she said.
The woman said facing her child’s abuser in court was “disconcerting”.
“I remember just shaking because this was someone I trusted my daughter’s care with,” she said.
“It’s just really relieved I was able to face him and look him in the eye.”
A father of a different girl who was targeted by Griffiths said it was a relief to know Griffith will be locked behind bars for many years to come.
“We would like to thank the AFP and the public prosecution for the many years of hard work and the pursuit of justice for the children in this case,” he said.
The father, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons, said despite the conviction, there are still many questions that needed to be answered about how Griffith was able to get away with his offending for so long.
“There are businesses, staff and regulators who ignored the signs and didn’t follow through on reports and failed to follow through on our children,” he said.
“They are still free and have their business names protected.
“We hope the Department of Education thoroughly investigates these centres and holds those responsible accountable for their negligence.
“The community deserves to know that these people will never work with children again. “Parents are walking their children into these centres today with a false sense of security in its excellence rating.
“Their kids are having naps on the same cots other kids were raped on, being watched by the same staff who failed repeatedly to stop it from happening.
“There obviously needs to be changed to better protect children in care.
“We implore those in positions of power and influence to have the courage to enact the learnings from this tragedy to a systematic failure like this is never allowed to happen again.”
Griffith to serve life in jail
Judge Paul Smith ordered Griffith spend life in jail with a 27-year non-parole period.
Griffith will be eligible for parole in August 2049 when he is 71 years old.
“This was very serious offending in terms of length and scale,” Mr Smith said.
“The victims were very vulnerable and there was a significant breach of trust.
“People expect their children will be protected in childcare centres.”
Griffith’s offending spanned throughout his career in childcare, from 2003 up until his arrest in 2022.
The court was told police ultimately found more than 600 images and more than 1800 videos on Griffith’s electronic devices, which had been filmed and categorised in horrifying detail to allow him to easily view the footage at his whim.
He targeted girls aged between two and seven years old, with the majority of the victims being aged between 3-5 years, the court was told.
“The offending happened over a lengthy period,” Mr Smith said.
“It involved many victims, many of the victims were very young and very vulnerable. “There were many rapes.
“There was a significant breach of trust.
“This is a case of such seriousness and gravity as to warrant a maximum penalty for the following reasons.
“The offending happened over a lengthy period.
“It involved many victims, many of the victims were of a very young age and very vulnerable.”
Griffith was arrested after Australian Federal Police found evidence he had filmed or photographed himself sexually abusing victims – all young girls – while he was working at childcare centres.
The court was told the police had discovered several videos online and were able to link them to Griffith in 2022 after discovering a branded blanket visible in one of the videos that was sold to specific childcare centres in Queensland.
The lasting impact
On Thursday, Griffith’s victims and their families delivered their impact statements, with many revealing to the court the harrowing realisations they have to now endure after learning the extent of his offending since his arrest.
The court was told many of Griffith’s victims weren’t even aware or had any memory of the vile offending.
One mother, who cannot be legally identified, said the knowledge of what Griffith’s had done to her daughter would haunt her forever.
“The only time she was away from me is when I placed her in your hands which is something I’ll regret for the rest of my life,” she said.
“The person I knew myself to know had died from the horror of your betrayal.”
Another parent said their daughter’s “innocent childhood had been taken away” because of Griffith’s offending.
“(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,” the parent said.
“I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.”
One father said he felt “grief and anger” because he felt like he’d failed in his “duty to protect my family”.
“The emotional and psychological toll on our family has been significant,” he said.
“Their innocence was stolen and that will never be fully erased.
“My heart aches that they’re carrying this burden even if it’s in ways they cannot articulate.
“I fear the event will cast a shadow on their future in ways we will not be able to fully understand yet.
“The harm inflicted on families will never be erased.”
The police investigation
Griffith was initially arrested and charged with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service for child pornography material in August 2022.
AFP officers later charged him with 1600 additional charges after more child abuse material was found on devices belonging to Griffith a year later.
Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller KC told the court the “true horror” of Griffith’s offending “is hard to capture in words”.
“The offending is abhorrent and difficult to comprehend,” he said.
Mr Fuller argued that Griffith should be given a life sentence with a non-parole period of 30 years.
Griffith’s defence barrister, Sarah Cartledge said her client should serve a non-parole period of 15 years if a head sentence of 25 to 30 years was handed down.
Ms Cartledge said Griffith’s offending was “deserving of significant punishment” but his offending was “not the worst category”.
“I want to make clear to the court that offences against children are abhorrent,” Ms Cartledge said.
“Nothing I can say is intended to take away from that; however, it is important all features before this case are put before the court.
“Emotion should not play a role (in sentencing).”
Justice Paul Smith will hand down his sentence at 11am on Friday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence contact:
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732
24-hour Emergency Accommodation helpline on 1800 800 588
Safe At Home helpline on 1800 633 937
National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service on 1800 FULLSTOP (1800 385 578). They also have a specific line for the LGBTIQA+ community called the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline on 1800 497 212
SHE (free and confidential counselling and support) on 6278 9090
Sexual Assault Support Services on 6231 1811, or after hours 6231 1817
Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122
Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1
Kids Helpline is for young people aged 5 to 25 on 1800 551 800
Don't go it alone. Please reach out for help by contacting Lifeline on 13 11 14
Men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, should contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or the Don’t Become That Man helpline on 1300 243 413
